A mobile Europe

On a global scale, we are becoming more accustomed to the idea of mobility in terms of communications. We are very attached to our mobile telephones. We like the idea of constantly being in touch, and the fear we have of not being able to reach someone or make a call or send a message or email is bound to feed into the demand for mobile satellite services. For many of us, the thought of not being connected is just unthinkable. In Europe, there is now an urgency that is felt along the halls of the European Commission, and that is to ensure that mobile satellite services are made available as soon as possible to the whole continent. This will help to ensure that people in rural and less populated areas have access to communications therefore ensuring that the European Commission is fulfilling its promise to connect Europe. In addition, it will ensure that Europe continues to develop its mobile capabilities. At present, the continent lags behind Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea that already boast widespread use of mobile TV for example. At present, mobile radio and TV are not yet available over satellite systems in Europe but access to MSS will change this. It seems to be a natural progression for Europe, which holds a 40 percent market share of the manufacture, launch and operation of satellites.

"Mobile satellite services have huge potential: they can enable Europeans to access new communication services, particularly in rural and less populated regions. I therefore welcome that we have now cleared the way for the swift launch of these pan-European services," said EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding. "This was possible thanks to the first pan-European selection procedure, developed in close cooperation with the European Parliament and the Member States. A Europe-wide market for mobile satellite services is now becoming a reality. I call on the Member States to take without any delay all the required follow up steps in order to allow a timely and proper launch of mobile satellite services."

The Involvement of the European Commission

For reasons of coordination, the Commission has tried to organise an efficient way to introduce MSS across the European Union Member States. Satellite communications obviously cross borders, due to their nature, so a single selection and authorisation process for operators in all Member States is a sensible way to coordinate this complex process. The European Commission assigns the same spectrum to operators in each Member State so that they can provide MSS at a pan-European level.

At present, existing regulations of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) have only procedures for radio frequency coordination to avoid unacceptable interference between satellite systems. They do not extend to the licensing of those systems. The European Commission therefore intervened to create a "one stop shop" to facilitate the emergence of a single market for mobile satellite services and maximise its potential, to the benefit of consumers and businesses.

The Selection of Operators
In August 2008, the EC put out a call for applications for pan-European systems providing MSS and received four responses from ICO Satellite Ltd, Inmarsat Ventures, Solaris Mobile and Terrestar Europe. On 13th May 2009, the Commission selected Inmarsat Ventures and Solaris Mobile to provide MSS across Europe. The Commission, with the assistance of independent external experts, evaluated whether the applicants demonstrated the required level of technical and commercial development of their satellite systems. Such assessment relied on the satisfactory completion of 5 milestones regarding, for instance, the construction of the satellites or their launch. The two companies selected were Inmarsat and Solaris Mobile. Both demonstrated the required level of technical and commercial development of their satellite systems. No second selection phase was required as the two candidates could be accommodated in the available spectrum. The selected applicants are bound by the commitments that they have undertaken, including commitments made concerning consumer and competitive benefits and geographic coverage. Within 30 working days of the publication of the list of selected applicants Inmarsat and Solaris Mobile were requested to inform the Commission if they did not intend to use the radio frequencies.

At this point, the EC also specified the frequency to be used by each company to provide their respective MSS. Both Inmarsat and Solaris are now expected to deploy their services by May 2011 at the latest.

Member States now have to ensure that Inmarsat Ventures Limited and Solaris Mobile Limited have the right to use the specific radio frequencies identified in the Commission's decision and the right to operate their respective mobile satellite systems. These providers have to be authorised to use their satellite systems all over Europe for 18 years from the selection decision. This is consistent with national practice in the sector and should allow investment to be recouped by satellite providers. Satellite systems are characterised by high upfront investment often over the hundreds of millions of euros. Commercial service should start within 24 months from this selection decision at the latest, subject to commitments to an earlier launch made by operators in their application.

Mobile satellite services for Europe will change the communications landscape. The decision to lay the foundations for mobile communications using space, will enable all to appreciate the benefits of voice and data and video services, no matter where on the continent they are. This will, without doubt, encourage the development of mobile TV in the region and will also herald a new era where radio in vehicles will be broadcast over satellite, where video on demand will be available on iPods, and TV can be viewed on mobile phone screens.

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